And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach Mark 3:14

Why did he call them to him?

They needed to get to know him! Before the twelve disciples could do the work they were called to do they must be with Christ. You cannot talk about what you don’t know and you won’t get to know someone without being with them. Through the three and half years with our Lord before the cross Christ would reveal himself to them. He would reveal his wisdom and his power to them. Miracle after miracle would reveal his power over the elements, over the animals, over the body, and over demons. The pinnacle of this revelation was his resurrection. They had to know he was Christ the Saviour and Lord of all creation before they could testify with power. This knowledge had to be experiential not just intellectual. John would later testify, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and handled, of the Word of life,1 John 1:1. He was real to them!!! The difference between a powerful witness and a weak witness is how real he is to the you.

They needed to get to know themselves! Another reason they were called to him was they needed to know themselves and how weak they were. Only a clean mirror can reveal our flaws and the fellowship of Christ has the ability to introduce us to our sinfulness. This is not to condemn us but to help us see our need of him. This should keep us humble in our service for him. A man’s pride shall bring him low. Peter would learn this about himself, though he was a born leader he needed humbling to be useful. How often the Lord allows things to happen to keep us humble. Tragically not everyone chooses to humble themselves and they eventually self-destruct or become very bitter people. Knowing your weakness should motivate you to depend upon his strength.

They needed to know that faithfulness to the labor was the result of fellowship with the Lord! They would eventually be sent out after having been with him and what great power they would demonstrate for the kingdom of God. Their having been sent out did not mean they should not return to him. They like us were nothing more than earthen vessels that would need constant refueling. Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 The word filled has the idea of getting continually filled. A one-time filling is not good enough. The disciples would need to return to him because he was their supply. He supplied the wisdom, the message and the strength to do the job they were called to do. When you see a Christian zealous in the work of the Lord it is because he has been with Jesus! When you see a Christian griping or envious in the Lords work it is because he has not been with the master in a while!